Massage apparatus



Feb. 18, 1941. M, UH 2,232,474

- MASSAGE nmmwus.

Filed June 14, 1940 EIMER M HA UH INVENTOR.

' 1 M" 5%farne1 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 OFFICE 2,232,474 MASSAGEAPPARATUS Elmer M. Rauh, Buffalo, N. Y. Application June 14,1940, SerialNo. 340,568

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in massaging apparatus and theobject thereof is to provide a simple yet elfective and efiicientmassaging device which is capable of producing a deep massage and apetrissage action on the deeper muscles and tissues of the body.

A further object is to produce a massaging device having a cup whichenables the operator to act upon one particular spot to the exclusion ofall others, and which also relieves the operator of the laborious taskof holding and restraining the device against lateral reactions.

A further object is to provide a massage device which incorporates a cupsurrounding the massage element of said device for aiding the operatorto secure the proper pressure of the element on the flesh and preventthe massage element from shifting away from a zone of flesh that isbeing treated.

A further object is to provide a massaging device with a calibratedscale which indicates to the operator the exact depth of massage beinggiven by determining the pressure being applied upon the massage elementand thereby upon the flesh.

A further object is to provide, in a massage device, an adjustable meansby which the eccentricity of the massage element may be varied and othermeans for varying the force of either the cup or massage element exertedagainst the flesh.

A further object is to provide, in a massage device, a spring element,adjustable to a plurality of degrees of compression, which functions topermit variation of the force required to move a pressure cup withrespect to the massage element.

Another object is to provide a massage device which produces a pinchingon the flesh between an eccentrically moving massage element thereof anda surrounding cup member, as well as a deep 1 massage on the bodytissue.

From the medical standpoint and especially those skilled in the art ofmassage, it will appear that my device is effective as a mechanicalmeans to simulate or approach the action of hand massage. It willproduce both a superficial and deep massage of the tissues of the body.For example, it will massage muscles for the patient or increase bloodcirculation. Furthermore, it will relieve symptoms of other conditionsand is also capable of increasing absorption.

I propose to avoid the vibrator type of treatment or frictional devices,both ofwhich are-only capable of producing a surface treatment. I alsoparts to be massaged. By properly adjusting the eccentricity of themassage element of my device, the skin floats or moves with the massagee1emerit and only the deeper tissues are petrissaged. w The pinchingeffect between the cup and the masavoid the use of powders andlubricants upon the sage element is also an important feature of mydevice.

Other objects, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by theinvention, as will later ap pear and as are inherently possessedthereby.

. Referring now to my drawing wherein, for the purpose of illustration,is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a part sectional view of a massage device constructedaccording to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of a detail;

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the detail of Fig. 2.

In Figure 1, a flexible shaft I is caused to rotate, by'some source ofpower, within the flexible casing 2. A tubular support 3 is providedwith a flange member 4 at one end and an internal bearing surface topermit the rotation, within said tubular support 3, of a shaft 5 havingon one end thereof a head 6, and the other end may be provided with aslot or other suitable connection for receiving a cooperating memberformed on the flexible shaft I, for example, as shown in Patent No.1,391,919, issuedto L. A. Thompson.

The shaft 5 and the tubular support 3 are respectively held inengagement with the flexible shaft I and the flexible casing 2 by meansof said connection. Any suitable bearing structure such as a thrustbearing 8 may be provided for aligning the shaft member 5 within thesaid support 3.

The head is provided with a plurality of openings 9, such as shown inFigure 3, which are disposed at varying distances from the centerthereof for obtaining eccentric motion to a variable degree of a massageelement ID. If a more minute adjustment is desired, the head 6 mayembody an elongated slot 9 radiating from the center of the head asshown in Figure 2. The massageelement I0 is made of rubber or othersuitable material having the desired degree of stiifness and resiliency.The shank portion of the support pin I I is adapted to fit inside asleeve embedded in'the massage element. The other end of said pin has athreaded portion adapted to be secured within any one of the openings inthe head 6. To secure the support pin I I to a fixed position in theslot 9 shown in Figure 2, the pin may be inserted through the slot andsecured by nuts placed about the threaded portion of the pin above andbelow the surface of the head 6. The massage element II) is adapted tobe detachably mounted upon the pin II and is supported for free rotationthereon. Numeral II indicates a spring detent or equivalent adapted toengage a recess on the free end of the pin I I.

A cup I8 made of a resilient -material, such as rubber or any othersuitable material and preferably bell-shaped, is affixed to an innersleeve member I2. The latter is carried by and is slidably movable onthe tubular support 3. at!

- lar support 3 and functions to vary the force The external sleeve maybe adjusted axially.

by means of a set-screw I! or other suitable means to a plurality ofpositions along the tubunecessary to move the rubber cup l8 and theinternal sleeve l2 to which the cup is affixed, axially of the tubularsupport 3. To vary tension on the spring I3, the set screw I! may beloosened to permit the sleeve [6 to be moved fore or aft along thetubular support 3.' This movement is communicated to thespring I3 bymeans of the flange IS The screw I1 is tightened up after the desiredadjustment is made. The external" surface of the internal sleeve i2 isprovided with suitable indicia i9 to indicate the various positions ofthe axially movable massage element with respect to the cup or thepressure exerted thereby.

My massage device operates as follows: Power is supplied for rotation ofthe shaft l and the massage element Ill. The mouth of the cup member isplaced over the area to be massaged and the operater, gripping theexternal sleeve or handle I 6, exerts a compressing movement causing thecup member and internal sleeve l2 to move axially along the tubularsupport 3 against the biasing action of the spring l3,

thereby bringing the massage element into contact with the area of fleshto be massaged. To indicate the depth of massage, the indicia may beread on the outer surface of the internal sleeve which, as may be seen,telescopes within the external sleeve I6 as the cup member is movedaxially of the tubular support 3 to bring the massage element I intomassaging position.

Although a rigid metal cup has been used successfully on my massagedevice, it does not adapt itself and uniformly comes in contact withcontour lines of the skin as is the case when a somewhat yieldablerubber cup is employed. For this reason, it has been found advisable toemploy rubber for the massage element and cup to avoid any possibleinjuries resulting from undue force exerted in the vicinity of any boneystructure such as the spine; When such obstructions are encountered,experiments show that the spring also tends to act as a shock-absorber.

As the massage element moves through its circular course, it does nottwist upon the skin but produces a kneading effect over the particulararea of the body to be massaged. This movement simulates hand massageand acts upon the deeper tissues. Even after or during a long treatment,no burning of the flesh'will occur since no friction is present betweenthe cup and the massage element. This is assured by having the massageelement free to rotate on its axis, otherwise a rubbing effect wouldoccur. With this arrangement, it is even possible to massage through theclothing with nearly the same beneficial effect as though the massageelement were directly applied to the skin.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, andvariouschanges in the shape, size and arrangement of .the parts may beresorted to w1thout departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a massage device, a massage element, a rotary shaft, means todrive said shaft, means for supporting said element on and eccentricallyof said shaft, a cup member, means to support said member concentricallyof said shaft in a position to surround said element whereby, when thecup member and massage element are in contact with a zone of flesh,local areas thereof may be therapeutically treated by the massage ele-'ment within thezone encompassed by the cup of said shaft, a cup member,means to support 2 said member concentrically of said shaft in aposition to surround said element whereby, when the cup member andmassage element are in contact with a zone of flesh, local areas thereofmay be therapeutically treated by the massage element within the zoneencompassed by the cup member, a tubular support for the shaft, a sleevesurrounding said support, said cup member being supported on saidsleeve, a coil spring encircling the tubular support and having one endin contact with the sleeve to permit the cup and sleeve to yield andslide rearwardly on the tubular support.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 2, an abutment for the rear end ofthe spring, and means for adjusting said abutment along the tubularsupport to vary tension of the spring.

4. In a device as set forth in claim 2, an abutment for the rear end ofthe spring, means for adjusting said abutment along the tubular support,and a second sleeve member connected to the abutment and being extendedforwardly to surround the spring and to serve as a hand grip for theoperator.

5. In a device as set forth in claim 2, an abutment on the sleeve toengage the rear end of the spring and a scale associated with theforward end of the sleeve for indicating the position of the cupWithrespect to the sleeve and the pressure of the cup on the patient.

- 6. In a massage device, a tubular support, a shaft extending'therethrough, means for rotating said shaft, a massage element, alateral extension on said shaft, said element being rotatably supportedon said extension, a front sleeve member carried by said tubular supportand movable axially thereof, a cup member carried by said sleeve, a rearsleeve member adjustable to a plurality of positions along said tubularsupport, a coil spring member carried by said support and arranged forcompression between said sleeve members, said cup member surrounding themassage element.

7. Ina device as set forth in claim 6, indicia 7 means on the forwardend of the front sleeve member for indicating positions of the cupmember and pressures exerted thereby.

ELMER M. RAUH.

